Brew Returns with the Mastergraph, a New Sporty Take on their Signature Style

We first brought you word of the new release from Brew Watches, the Mastergraph, back in our summary of the coolest debuts from October’s Windup Watch Fair in NYC. Well, pre-orders are finally being filled on Brew’s latest chronograph, so we thought now would be a good time to get slightly more in-depth on their newest release.

Brew Mastergraph

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: White with black subdials, black with black subdials, copper with white subdials
• Dimensions: 38 x 10.5 x 41.5mm
• Crystal: Sapphire   
• Water Resistance: 50 
• Crown: Push/pull         
• Movement: Seiko VK68
• Strap/bracelet: Leather
• Price: $375
• Reference Number: n/a
• Expected Release: Available now 

The Mastergraph is a logical next step after the Retrograph, which could be considered something of a dress chronograph, with case lines and features inspired by fine Italian espresso machines. The Mastergraph is sportier, with a chunkier cushion case, the addition of a third register on the dial, and a rotating bezel. The Brew DNA is still very much present: the rectangular case shape remains, as do the minute markers on the bezel meant to indicate when the perfect shot of espresso has been extracted, at 30 to 35 seconds. The inclusion of a rotating bezel on the Mastergraph gives the user some additional flexibility when it comes to their coffee timing needs (the retrograph included this same indication as additional 1/10 second hash marks on the dial).

The Mastergraph measures 38 x 41.5mm, which are the same dimensions as the retrograph. Looking at photos of the watches apart from one another, it’s hard to understand how they could be the same size, as they appear to be completely different case shapes. Holding the watches side by side at Windup, however, reveals how similar (and different) the watches are. While they have the same footprint, the dial of the new Mastergraph takes up considerably less real estate than its predecessor. The result is an interesting experiment in how dial size impacts the wearing experience. My impression was that the new watch wore smaller than the Retrograph, with its expansive layout and bezel-less design. The case remains, of course, just as comfortable, but perhaps a bit more balanced and pleasing to the eye when actually looking at it on the wrist.

The style of the watch is heavily inspired by timepieces of the 1960s, when non-circular watch cases were more common. The case finishing is largely brushed, with nice looking radial brushing on the top of the case, a definite vintage cue. At launch, the Mastergraph is available in three dial variants: Steel (a classic black on white panda style layout), Universal (an all black dial), and Copper (white subdials, with a main dial made to remind us of coffee). As mentioned, all have a three register layout thanks to the VK68 Meca-Quartz movement ticking away inside. 

The Mastergraph is priced at $375, and is available now on the Brew website. Brew Watch Co